Ever After
IN DEBT
TYING the knot
is an expensive
business, with
43 percent of
couples going
into debt to
pay for
their weddings
- don’t be a
statistic!
W
ORKING on a wedding
budget? Here’s a tip:
DON’T look to the stars for
inspiration! Wayne Rooney
and Coleen McLoughlin ploughed $8-million
into their big day; Prince William and Kate
Middleton splashed out $34-million on
theirs, while businessman Amit Bhatia and
his wife Vanisha Mittal forked out an eye-
watering $66-million for their wedding bash!
Unless you are rolling in money, spending
oodles can start your journey as a married
couple off on shaky ground. Instead of
celebrating your new life together, you risk
spending weeks, months, and sometimes
years, stressing over how to repay your
wedding debt. We crunch the figures onwhat you can expect to pay for services on
your big day and give you some tips on how
you can save.Be Prepared: Getting married
can be expensive. “The typical budget for
an engagement ring in South Africa is about
R20 000 and lobola payments
usually range from around
R10 000 to R100 000, with the
average groom paying around
R60 000. Luckily for him, a
portion of this cost is usually
used by the bride’s family to
fund the wedding,” explains
James Williams, head of
marketing at Wonga. “There
are, however, a number of
other costs that have to be
considered when it comes
to the wedding itself. Before
couples start planning their
weddings, it is advisable to
speak about the costs and haveagood
understanding of who is payingfor what.To
ensure that all costs have been accounted
for, it’s useful to use a budgeting tool like
the Wedding Budget Planner, available from
Hitched.co.za. This will help couples keep
an eye on their spending and avoid hidden
costs that might force them to go over
budget.”
How much is the norm? According
to wedding planning Greatoccasionshiring.
co.za, the total cost for an average
wedding in South Africa currently runs
between R70 000 and R80 000 for 80 to 100
people – this works out at an average of
R700 to R800 per person. For high-end
weddings these figures can calculate up to
R1 500 to R2 000 per person.Set A Budget: Before you
even start looking at venues set a wedding
budget. Your venue (including food and
alcohol) should be roughly 50 percent
of your total expected budget; wedding
gown and accessories, photography, music,
flowers and décor 10 percent to 15 percent
of the total amount, while cake, invitations,candles, table gifts etc. should make up two
to five percent of the total amount.Trim Your Guest List:
Cutting your guest list is the easiest
way to reduce your budget. It will lower
everything, including your catering
and invitation costs, your
venue size and rentals.
Only invite people who will
be part of your future and
ask your parents not to go
overboard when inviting their
own friends.A Little Help:
Asking for money instead of
gifts on your wedding invite
can seem tacky. Modern
couples get around this
obstacle by setting up a
wedding website or social
media group where they list
cash under the registry option.
Your bridalparty can also spread the word
among your family and friends that cash
would be most welcome.Suppliers: A wedding involves more
than just a venue. Go to wedding expos and
get quotes before deciding on suppliers. Read
the fine print for hidden costs and always
ask for work samples before making a final
decision. Sometimes it pays to find a venue
that allows you to bring in your own vendors,
such as the DJ, caterer and bartenders. Keep
in mind that very few things last as long
as photographs do so don’t skimp when
it comes to choosing a photographer. As a
general guide you can expect to pay around
R8 000 – R20 000+ for the services of a
professional photographer.Hiring A Wedding
Planner:Planning a wedding can be
stressful but not every wedding requires the
expertise of a wedding planner. Full service
wedding planners can be expensive. Ask your
venue if they offer an in-house planner who
co-ordinates the wedding on the day. If youJames Williams, head of
marketing at WongaPrince William and Kate MiddletonWayne Rooney and Coleen McLoughlin46
LIFESTYLE
BYVA N ESSAPA PASMONEY TALK$